Exosomal microRNAs as biomarkers for viral replication in tofacitinib-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients with hepatitis C.

Abstract

Notwithstanding recent advances in direct antiviral specialists (DAAs) for hepatitis C infection (HCV), it is yet a pervasive overall issue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with HCV infection. However, it remains unknown how miRNAs respond following biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) and targeted synthetic DMARD (tsDMARD) treatment in HCV patients with RA. We prospectively recruited RA patients taking anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors rituximab (RTX) and tofacitinib. The serum hepatitis C viral load was measured using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR before and 6 months after bDMARD and tsDMARD therapy. HCV RNA replication activity was measured using an HCV-tricistronic replicon reporter system, and quantitative analysis of hsa-mir-122-5p and hsa-mir-155-5p in patients was performed using quantitative PCR. HCV RNA replication in hepatocytes was not affected by tofacitinib or TNF-α inhibitor treatment. Hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-122-5p were significantly expanded in RA patients with HCV as compared with those without HCV. We observed a dramatic increase in hsa-mir-122-5p and a decrease in hsa-mir-155-5p expression levels in patients taking RTX in comparison with other treatments. Finally, a reduction in hsa-mir-122-5p and an increase in hsa-mir-155-5p were observed in a time-dependent manner after tofacitinib and DAA therapy in RA-HCV patients. These results showed that hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-122-5p were significantly increased in RA-HCV patients as compared with those without HCV after taking tofacitinib. Hsa-mir-155-5p and hsa-mir-122-5p may be potential biomarkers for treatment efficacy in RA patients with HCV.

• Authors: Tsai-Ling Liao, I-Chieh Chen, Hong-Wei Chen, Kuo-Tung Tang, Wen-Nan Huang, Yi-Hsing Chen, Yi-Ming Chen
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 14 Issue 1 Pg. 937 (01 10 2024) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 38195767 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• MicroRNAs
• tofacitinib
• Antiviral Agents
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Rituximab
• Antirheumatic Agents
• Biomarkers

Topics

• Humans
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• Antiviral Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (drug therapy, genetics)
• Hepacivirus (genetics)
• Hepatitis C (drug therapy, genetics)
• Virus Replication
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy, genetics)
• Rituximab
• Antirheumatic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Biomarkers